Toys are a 22.09 billion dollar industry a year in the United States. The highest number of toy sales traditionally happens in December, as families across the United States prepare to celebrate the holidays. Ohio has long been at the forefront of the toy industry, dating back to the mid-19th century.

A horse made by the Delphos Bending Company

The Delphos Bending Company was founded in 1900 by Louis Justus in Delphos, Ohio. Originally named The Delphos Hoop Company, they produced wooden barrel hoops until 1912. The company rebranded and started producing metal and wood parts. In 1934 the company started making children’s furniture. By 1951 it was the largest children’s furniture maker in the world. Later they expanded into the production of large children’s toys, including a successful line of rocking horses. Due to rising production costs, the company shut down production in 1980.

Another early example of the toy industry in Ohio is “Dayton Toys”. Comprised as a toy movement made up of 38 Dayton based toy companies in the late 19th century, these toys were early friction toys or “Hill Climbers”, tin wheeled toys. This type of toy was in such demand in the early 20th century, author William Gallagher explains, “There were about 40 toy makers across the Miami Valley and more than 200 toy patents. Orville Wright even had a toy patent, and his older brother Lorin owned a toy company.”[1] However, the Depression hit the industry hard and by World War II most of these toy companies had closed.

Another Dayton based toy maker, Wilkie Picture & Puzzle Co., managed to survive the manufacturing limitations of World War II. The company produced thousands of puzzles during the 1930s and 1940s, including several Wright Brothers themed puzzles. The company shut down by the early 1950s due to rising production costs.

Etch A Sketch made by the Ohio Art Company.

Founded in 1908, the Ohio Art Company is one of the oldest and best known Ohio toy companies. It was started in Archbold, Ohio, by Henry Winzeler, who decided that making oval shaped metal frames would be more interesting than being a dentist. Lithographic prints from Germany were inserted into these frames and sold by companies like Sears, Roebuck & Co. In 1912, Winzeler relocated Ohio Art to its current location in Bryan, Ohio. A few years later, in part due to the halt on German imports during World War I, Ohio Art entered the toy industry. They created banks, small coaster wagons and carts, spinning tops, and tea sets. In 1959, Ohio Art bought the rights to the “Telecran” from Frenchman Andre Cassagnes. He and the company’s chief engineer, Jerry Burger, spent time perfecting the design before it was released in 1960 under the name “Etch-A-Sketch.” This drawing toy quickly became Ohio Art’s most iconic and popular toy, with Sears, Roebuck & Co. selling ten million of them in the 1960s alone. Etch-A-Sketch was one of the many successes the company had during the 1960s. They also began making metal signs and trays for Coca-Cola. Ohio Art continues to be a successful toy company today, though the toys are no longer manufactured in Ohio.

Bath toy made by the Evenflo. Company in the late 1970s.

The Evenflo Company was started in 1920 in Ravenna, Ohio. They originally produced rubber materials related to baby feeding, but expanded production to infant products over the years including this bath toy set. Best known today for breast pumps, bottles, car seats, and strollers, the company moved to Miamisburg, Ohio in the 1990s. They maintain a factory in Piqua, Ohio.

Little Tikes was created by Thomas G. Murdough Jr. in 1969 in Aurora, Ohio to create low-tech molded plastic toys aimed primarily at infants and young children, for indoor and outdoor use. The company is best known for its turtle shaped sandbox and the “Cozy Coupe” car, a red and yellow plastic car intended for young children, both introduced in 1979. The company moved to Hudson, Ohio in 1984 to expand their manufacturing plant as demand continued to rise. In 1991, “The Cozy Coupe Car was named the Best-selling car in America.”[2]

Thomas G. Murdough Jr. started another toy company based in Ohio after leaving Little Tikes. The Step 2 Company, based in Streetsboro, Ohio, is the largest American manufacturer of preschool and toddler toys and the world’s largest rotational molder of plastics. Step2 began operations in 1991 with five employees. Plastic play houses are their best known product.

Strawberry Shortcake trashcan made by the American Greetings Company in the early 1980s.

While not exclusively a toy company, the American Greetings Company has created countless characters emblazoned on toys across the country. American Greetings was started in Cleveland, Ohio in 1906 by Polish immigrant Jacob Sapirstein. The company originally sold paper greeting cards before expanding into other product lines such as licensed characters. American Greetings’ toy design and licensing division, known as Those Characters From Cleveland, includes such as Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears, The Get Along Gang, Popples, and Holly Hobbie.

One of the newest holiday traditions, Christopher Pop-In-Kins, comes from Alliance, Ohio. Winner of the Greatest Products of 2008 Award by iParenting Media Awards, the toy was invented by Flora Johnson, a grandmother from Atwater, Ohio in 1984. According to the company, “Based on a tradition she(Flora) began with her own family during the early 1960’s, Christopher “pops in” to visit boys and girls from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. He then returns to the North Pole with a report on his time in the Children’s World.” Christopher has been delighting children and adults across the country since then, including staff at the Ohio History Connection!

Christopher Pop-In-Kins recently spent the day with curators and the Ohio History Connection collections.

Did you own any of these toys growing up? What other toys were or continue to be produced in Ohio?

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At the Ohio History Center, new objects are constantly being changed out for preservation and to help us better tell the story of Ohio’s history. Recently, four pieces created by Elijah Pierce were added to the History Mall on the first floor of the Center.

Elijah Pierce pieces on exhibit in the History Mall at the Ohio History Center.

Who was Elijah Pierce?

Elijah Pierce was born on March 5, 1892 on a farm in Mississippi, the youngest son of a former slave. His father gave Pierce his first pocket knife and by the age of 7, he was creating small wooden animals. Working with his Uncle Lewis, Pierce learned about the different types of wood and how to work with wood. Not interested in farming, Pierce pursued a career in barbering, working at a shop in Baldwyn, Mississippi to make ends meet.

Examples of Elijah Pierce’s handcrafted figures.

After being widowed at a young age, Pierce married again in 1923 to Cornelia Houeston, following his new wife to Columbus, Ohio. Pierce continued to work as a barber in his new city. One year for Cornelia’s birthday, Pierce carved her a small elephant. She liked it so much, he promised to create an entire zoo for her, setting off his career in woodworking. His work evolved from figurines to 3-dimensional figurines on wood; in 1932, Pierce completed his best known piece the Book of Wood. The Book of Wood is a series of scenes, explaining the story of Jesus.

In 1951, Pierce opened up his own barbershop at 483 Long Street. Pierce’s shop became a community meeting place; an establishment to talk about politics, news, and even to exhibit pieces of his work. Pierce continued to created pieces, but it was not until the early 1970s that his talents were recognized outside of the community. Boris Gruenwald, a graduate student at Ohio State University, saw Pierce’s pieces at a YMCA show, immediately recognizing Pierce’s talents. Through Gruenwald’s art connections, Pierce’s work was shown in the Krannert Art Museum, the Phyllis Kind Gallery of New York, the National Museum of American Art, and the Renwick Gallery.

Sign from Pierce’s shop.

In November, 1972, Pierce’s carvings and sculptures were exhibited at the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts (now the Columbus Museum of Art); Mahonri Sharp Young, then CGFA Director, said the following about Pierce’s work, “You can always go over to Elijah Pierce’s barber shop on Long Street and see for yourself that everything [he does] is absolutely real. Long Street is the 125th St. of Columbus, but there is not that much bustle. Mr. Pierce did not learn his work from us or anyone else. He used to set up his wares at country fairs, and, in a way, he still does; he is a preacher, and he likes to talk about his vivid carvings (and) their meaning for him. On one side of the highway you find love, peace, happiness, home, content and success: on the other, confusion, woe, pain and hell house. Your life is a book, and every day a page.”

Elijah Pierce died May 7, 1984, but his legacy on the Columbus Arts community continues to live on today. His work can be found in museums across the country; Pierce is still regarded as one of the finest wood artists today.

Have you seen pieces of Elijah Pierce’s around Columbus? How do you think his legacy lives on today?

Since its establishment in 1996, the Greene County Records Center and Archives has been committed to both preserving and providing access to its public records of enduring historical value.

In 2011, the archives building housing records for Greene County was condemned as unsafe. Through joint efforts of the archives staff and other county departments, a new, convenient, environmentally sound location was selected and all records were carefully moved to the new location. The records have been newly inventoried and re-shelved, ensuring and improving public access that has remained a priority for the Greene County Records Center and Archives. Public outreach has now been added as a focus in order to call more attention to its collections and the valuable resources that local government records provide.

“The Greene County Records Center and Archives demonstrated painstaking, diligent effort in its successful removal and installation of valuable historic documents into a new archives location,” said Pari Swift, who led this year’s OHRAB achievement award committee in its search. “The exceptional commitment by dedicated staff to safely and quickly secure a new permanent location for its archives material could not be overlooked.”

The new location of the Greene County Records Center and Archives is 535 Ledbetter Road, Xenia, Ohio 45385.

We recently changed out some textiles on our history mall! This new installation explores textiles and the relationship to politics.

How do textiles and politics relate to each other?

Since the first campaign in Ohio, politicians have looked for ways to advertise themselves and their policies through any means possible. Textiles were used as a means to capture the political experience during the election and afterwards through quilts, banners, and shirts. The versatility of the material allowed them to be easily moved to spread messages and convey ideas. Sometimes, simply having a politician’s name on a textile was enough to cause controversy in a community based on one’s politics. Politicians continue to use this medium today.

H 28053 is a banner from the Anti-Saloon League, one of the most prominent prohibition organizations in the United States of America in the late nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries and one of the most powerful political lobbies.

What textiles are being exhibited?

The textiles on exhibit include quilts and banners created during or after a political campaign.

Why are the light levels so low in that area?

Textiles are very sensitive to light; prolonged exposure leads to irreversible damage. Just like when you leave a towel outside in the summer and it fades, textiles in museums can fade if they are in bright light for too long so we keep the light levels low in the gallery to protect them. This is also the reason why textiles on exhibit are changed frequently; once light damage has occurred, the damage to object can not be reversed, only preserved.

What other kinds of textiles do you have in the collection?

We collect all types of textiles from all periods in Ohio history. Our textile collection includes over 400 quilts, 350 gowns, over 80 banners, and over 300 coverlets in addition to thousands of other pieces of textiles ranging from fragments to flags.

One section of the textile installation that features a quilt raffled of by the GAR and a political banner from the 1888 presidential election.

How do I donate a textile to the collection?

Email our curators with a picture, description, and any information about the object to collections@ohiohistory.org

Do you own any textiles used to commemorate a political figure or idea?

Emerson Burkhart (1905-1969) ruled the Columbus art scene during the 1950s and 1960s with his honest portraits and depictions of life in the city. While Burkhart was praised for his artistic skill, conflicts in his personal and professional life prevented him from receiving national attention. Reflections of an Artist: Emerson Burkhart displays never seen artwork by Burkhart, including the original sketches for the controversial mural Music.

Make sure to tune in!

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As the holiday season approaches many of us start thinking a little more about what we are going to eat or serve and about what our families served in the past. Foods are a large part of our holiday traditions and many of us still think about what to put on the menu. Either we chose traditional menus or decide to incorporate new items. So if you are working on a menu, why not turn to the professionals? In the early twentieth century, hotels in Ohio paired foods that their guests found delicious. Some of the options might be more tantalizing to 1910 tastes than 21st century tastes. Nonetheless, some of these menu items are still favorites.

In 1902, at the Forest City House Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio, you could enjoy an impressive breakfast. It included your choice of fish, eggs, meat, or even oysters. Some of the choices included broiled mackerel, tenderloin steak, calf’s liver and bacon, and tripe in batter. More familiar items included shredded wheat biscuits, buckwheat cakes, and omelets. Chittenden Hotel’s morning meal menu, in Columbus, Ohio, also featured the broiled mackerel and calf’s liver, as well as a few different options like broiled Philadelphia squab on toast and Boston baked pork and beans.

Supper at Forest City House began with cold or hot consomme. You could then dine on salt mackerel, stewed kidneys with mushrooms, or a choice of various broiled meats. In 1907 at the Hotel Conrad in Massillon, Ohio, dinner began with a German potato soup and some sweet pickles followed by boiled corned beef and cabbage, fricassee of lamb with green peas, or calves’ brains and scrambled eggs. Dessert included custard pie, cherry pie, and rice pudding with cream sauce.

For those who wanted to dine out for Thanksgiving in 1910, the Chittenden Hotel offered a sumptuous and filling Thanksgiving dinner. The dinner began with little neck clams, green turtle moderne, bouchee of oyster crabs neptune, or broiled Spanish mackerel. Turkey was on the menu, as was roast suckling pig fermiere, and saddle of venison a l’huntress. For dessert English plum pudding with brandy sauce, mince pie, pumpkin pie, and fruitcake were all up for grabs. Of course, there is nothing like Roquefort cheese and toasted crackers to finish off the spectacular meal. To accompany the dinner the Chittenden also included a musical program performed by W. H. Claspill’s Orchestra.

Front cover of the Chittenden Hotel Thanksgiving dinner menu, 1910

Inside of the Chittenden Hotel Thanksgiving dinner menu, 1910

Of course no menu is complete without something to drink. Elizabeth Wetzel, the chief dietician at the Parmly House Hotel in Painesville, Ohio circa 1920s-30s, kept a journal of recipes. She also kept clippings of recipes she thought worthy enough to serve to her guests. For egg nog lovers Wetzel has a cocoa variation of the holiday favorite, included below:

Cocoa egg nog: Beat the white of 1 egg until stiff and add gradually while beating constantly 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 of cocoa and a few grains of salt. Add to ½ the mixture while beating constantly ¾ cup of cold milk turn into glass and pile remainder of liquid on top.

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A rare photograph that went missing from the Campus Martius Museum in Marietta, Ohio will return home. On November 21, 2014 Ohio History Connection staff will install the unique photograph of Zouave soldiers taken early in the Civil War on the exhibit floor.

What is an ambrotype?

Popular in the mid to late 1850s, ambrotypes are negative images developed on glass that appear positive when backed with dark material. Each image is unique. They were available in different plate sizes and assembled in cases.

When did the Zouave ambrotype come to Campus Martius?

The Zouave ambrotype was collected by the Women’s Centennial Association when they assembled an exhibit to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Marietta in 1888. Many of these items were eventually put on display at the Campus Martius Museum. The ambrotype is listed in the WCA log book as “Soldiers of 1861.”

Why is the Zouave ambrotype unique?

The size, coloring and soldiers dress make this photograph unusual. Measuring about 6 x 8 inches, this was a full plate ambrotype which was not as common as smaller plates. Photographers often added color to ambrotypes, but few were colored so extensively. There were also fewer soldiers who wore Zouave uniforms in the Civil War than standard uniforms.

Is this a battle scene?

The soldiers posed dramatically as if in hand to hand combat, but they are not on a battle field. If you look carefully at the sides of the ambrotype you can see the edges of the photographer’s back drop.

Who are the soldiers in the picture?

There are multiple theories regarding the soldiers’ identities. Based on another photograph of soldiers wearing similar uniforms one historian believes these soldiers may have members of the Dayton Zouave Rangers. Another possibility is that they were the Fireman Zouaves, a Marietta company called up for guard duty in 1861 and lead by Captain Sidney Shaw. Research to identify the soldiers continues.

When did the ambrotype leave Campus Martius?

Campus Martius staff reported the ambrotype missing from the museum in November 1978. Stories in the Marietta Times and other publications brought attention to the theft, but did not lead to the ambrotype’s return.

How did the ambrotype return?

After being bought and sold several times by private collectors the ambrotype was donated to a public repository as part of a large collection of Civil War images. Once the ambrotype was returned to the public trust an investigation led to its transfer. Ohio History Connection staff regained possession of the object in July 2014.